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Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
Start your Canada eTA application below. Complete the secure online form to apply for a Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) if you are a visa-exempt traveller flying to or transiting through Canada. All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory and must match your travel document.
How many travelers will be on this application (including yourself)?
Multiple entries
Per visit
Typically within 24 hours
Use this portal to apply for a Canada eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) if you are a visa-exempt foreign national flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport. If you plan to work, study or stay longer, or you are not from a visa-exempt country, you may instead need a Canadian visitor visa or permit. Complete the secure form above to start your Canada eTA application — the entire process is online, mobile-friendly and supported 24/7.
The Canada eTA is an electronic travel authorization for citizens of visa-exempt countries who travel to Canada by air for tourism, business, transit or visiting family, usually for stays of up to 6 months. Travellers from countries that are not visa-exempt need a visitor visa instead. Simply select your nationality to see the right path.
The Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is an entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals travelling to or transiting through Canada by air. It is electronically linked to your passport and is valid for up to 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
Use the secure application form at the top of this page. Enter your passport details, answer the background questions, choose a processing speed, and pay online. Many Canada eTA applications are approved within minutes, though some can take several days.
Citizens of visa-exempt countries who fly to or transit through a Canadian airport need an eTA. U.S. citizens, Canadian citizens (including dual citizens) and Canadian permanent residents do not need one. Travellers arriving by land or sea do not need an eTA, but must carry valid travel documents.
Most Canada eTA applications are approved by the Government of Canada within minutes. Some applications may take several days if additional documents are requested, so apply before you book your flight.
Ready to start? Secure Canada eTA application — apply online now and complete your form in minutes.
Apply Online Now — Start Your Canada eTACanada eTA Advisory Overview
Travellers intending to fly to or transit through Canada under the Electronic Travel Authorization programme are advised to familiarise themselves with the requirements set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). A properly submitted Canada eTA application serves as a pre-travel screening credential distinct from a Canadian visitor visa. Each eTA application is assessed against uniform eligibility criteria, and prospective visitors should confirm whether their nationality is visa-exempt before applying.
The Canada eTA requirement applies to visa-exempt foreign nationals who travel to Canada by air for tourism, transit, visiting family or friends, or permitted business activities. A Canada eTA does not confer permanent residence or substitute for a work or study permit. Rather, each eTA allows the holder to board a flight to Canada, subject to admission by a border services officer.
Before initiating a Canada eTA application, The Applicant must hold a valid passport issued by a visa-exempt country, a valid email address, and a payment card. The eTA application requires accurate biographical data, passport details, and answers to background questions. Applicants uncertain whether they need an eTA or a visitor visa may consult the eligibility guidance before proceeding.
Every Canada eTA application undergoes automated and, where indicated, manual review against security and immigration databases. An application may be refused if material inconsistencies or admissibility concerns are detected. Travellers whose eTA is refused, or who fall outside programme scope, may need to apply for a Canadian visitor visa instead.
Procedural Guidance
Prospective travellers often seek clarity on how to complete a Canada eTA application through a single, coherent procedural sequence. The following directives outline the stages applicable to a Canada eTA submission, from initial selection through final attestation. Whether travelling for leisure, business or transit, adherence to these stages minimises the probability of rejection and helps the eTA application review proceed smoothly.
Commence the Canada eTA process by selecting nationality, purpose of travel, and anticipated travel date. A Canada eTA application requires the traveller to declare the exact passport that will be used to board the flight to Canada, as the eTA is electronically linked to that passport.
Enter given names, surname, date of birth, and passport particulars exactly as they appear in the machine-readable zone. An incorrect passport number is one of the most common causes of problems at check-in, and discrepancies at this stage frequently lead to Canada eTA application delays or refusal.
Select Standard, Rush, or Super Rush processing in accordance with your travel timeline. The chosen track determines how quickly we prepare and submit your Canada eTA application; it does not affect the Government of Canada's own review time.
Review all entered data, confirm the declaration checkboxes, and submit the application. Upon successful submission of the Canada eTA application, a reference identifier is generated. The applicant should retain this identifier for all subsequent correspondence regarding the eTA application status.
Traveller Resources
The following compendium addresses recurring enquiries submitted by travellers preparing a Canada eTA application. Individuals often ask whether they need an eTA, a visitor visa, or both. A Canada eTA is the appropriate document for visa-exempt nationals flying to Canada for short visits, whereas the visitor visa regime applies to nationalities that are not visa-exempt.
A Canada eTA is not a visa. It is an electronic authorization linked to the traveller's passport. The Canada eTA application process is substantially shorter than the visitor visa process, which may require biometrics. Nonetheless, each eTA application is subject to security screening, and travellers must still satisfy the border services officer on arrival. Those seeking to work, study or immigrate should refer to the appropriate IRCC permit or visa category rather than the eTA programme.
A Canada eTA is valid for up to five years from the date of issuance or until the linked passport expires, whichever comes first. The eTA permits multiple trips to Canada within the validity window; the length of each stay (usually up to six months) is decided by the border services officer on arrival. If you obtain a new passport, you must apply for a new eTA. The eTA application fee is levied per applicant and is non-refundable once submitted, regardless of outcome.
Should The Applicant discover an error after submitting the Canada eTA application, modification may be possible through our support team before the application is transmitted. Errors in passport data or nationality after submission generally require a new Canada eTA application. Travellers uncertain how to correct an application are directed to consult the Correspondence Bureau for case-specific guidance.
In the event of a Canada eTA refusal, the applicant will receive a notice from IRCC by email. A refused eTA application does not automatically preclude future applications, provided the underlying issue has been resolved. Applicants whose eTA is refused may be able to apply for a Canadian visitor visa suited to their visit purpose and nationality.
Comprehensive Canada eTA Reference Compendium
The following compendium has been compiled to assist The Applicant intending to apply for a Canada eTA in navigating the procedural framework governing the Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) programme. Each subsection delineates a specific dimension of the eTA application, assessment, and post-issuance lifecycle, consistent with guidance published by the Government of Canada on canada.ca.
The accuracy of all biographical, jurisdictional, and travel document particulars furnished within an ETA Application is determinative of the adjudication outcome. Any traveller preparing to Apply ETA is hereby directed to verify each datum against the machine-readable zone of the underlying travel document prior to final attestation, as transcription irregularities are the predominant cause of administrative rejection.
Indicative processing intervals are presented strictly for reference purposes and shall not constitute a contractual or statutory commitment. Submissions selected for enhanced adjudicative review may be subject to extended evaluation periods, irrespective of the processing track elected at the point of submission.
All personally identifiable information transmitted via this submission interface is processed in accordance with prevailing data protection norms. Custodial obligations extend exclusively to the duration necessary for procedural facilitation, after which archival or erasure protocols are activated under established retention schedules.
Subsection A
The eligibility of any prospective declarant is contingent upon the satisfaction of multiple converging criteria, the principal among which are jurisdictional qualification, travel document validity, and the absence of disqualifying factors pertaining to prior immigration history.
Only nationals of visa-exempt countries, as listed by the Government of Canada, are entitled to initiate a Canada eTA application through this portal. U.S. citizens do not require an eTA. Nationals of countries that are not visa-exempt are required to apply for a Canadian visitor visa through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The passport used for the Canada eTA application must be the same passport used to travel, and should remain valid for the entirety of the intended period of stay in Canada. The eTA expires when the linked passport expires. Documents approaching expiration should be renewed prior to the initiation of the declaration sequence to obviate procedural complications.
The Canada eTA is intended for short-term visits by air comprising tourism, transit through a Canadian airport, family visits, and limited categories of business activity. Declarants who intend to work, study or immigrate must instead apply for the appropriate Canadian permit or visa.
Subsection B
The declarant commences the sequence by furnishing jurisdictional, biographical, and travel document particulars within the prescribed interface fields.
Submitted data undergoes preliminary integrity checks to detect transcription anomalies, format irregularities, and internal inconsistencies prior to onward transmission.
The declaration is referred for substantive evaluation against prevailing admissibility criteria, with outcomes ordinarily communicated within the elected processing track.
Upon favourable determination, the authorisation credential is electronically affixed to the underlying travel document and notified to the declared correspondence address.
Subsection C
The administrative levies prescribed within the Canada eTA application framework are calibrated to reflect the operational expenditures associated with the facilitation, transmission, and post-issuance administration of the credential. Levies are quoted in the prevailing settlement currency and are subject to periodic adjustment. The Government of Canada's own eTA fee is CAN$7 per applicant.
Three processing tracks are made available for how quickly we, as a third-party service, prepare and submit your declaration: the Standard track, ordinarily completed within twenty-four hours; the Rush track, for time-sensitive submissions; and the Super Rush track, for the most urgent submissions. These tracks describe only our own preparation and submission speed — they do not influence, expedite, or in any way affect the Government of Canada's own review or decision on the application.
Once disbursed, administrative levies remain non-refundable save under the limited circumstances enumerated within the prevailing Refund Policy schedule, including demonstrable duplicate transmission and verifiable system irregularities.
Subsection D
The successful issuance of a Canada eTA does not, in and of itself, constitute an absolute guarantee of admission to Canada, nor does it supersede any visa or permit requirement applicable to the declarant's specific circumstances. Final discretion remains exclusively vested in the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer at the point of presentation, who may interrogate the declarant regarding the purpose, duration, and material circumstances of the visit.
The Applicant is additionally directed to ensure that the underlying travel document presented at the port of entry remains identical to the passport declared within the Canada eTA application, as material discrepancies between declared and presented documentation may result in the suspension or revocation of the issued credential.
Modifications to declared particulars subsequent to issuance are governed by the Post-Submission Amendment protocol, accessible through the declarant portal, and may be subject to supplementary administrative levies depending upon the nature and extent of the requested rectification.
Subsection E
The following enumeration delineates the categories of irregularity most frequently encountered during preliminary integrity verification. The Applicant is directed to review each item with diligence prior to attestation.
Discrepancy between the rendered name and the machine-readable zone of the travel document.
Furnishing the date of birth in a format inconsistent with the prescribed declarative schema.
Presentation of a travel document approaching expiration during the projected period of stay.
Submission of an electronic mail address subject to delivery failure or domain irregularities.
Selection of a nationality variant inconsistent with that displayed upon the travel document.
Initiation of multiple parallel declarations in respect of the same underlying travel document.
Should The Applicant encounter procedural ambiguity at any juncture during the declarative sequence, the Correspondence Bureau remains available to furnish guidance in respect of interface navigation, documentary requirements, and post-submission follow-through. Communications are ordinarily acknowledged within twenty-four hours of receipt, subject to operational volumes.
Ref: ETA-FORM-001-2026. Document integrity verified via Protocol 9.
